US2480317A - Pocket pyrophoric lighter - Google Patents

Description

Aug.I 30, 1949. F. H. BOWERS 2,480,317

POCKET PYRoPHoRIC LIGHTER Filed March 5, 1947 l@ w. f

UNITED STATES PATENToFFlCE Y POCKET` PYROPHORIC LIGHTER k,Fredrick H. Bowers, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application 4March 5, 1947, Serial No. 732,388

This invention relates to improvements in pocket pyrophoric lighters of the cap closure type, having for an object to provide an advantageous and noviel form of snuffel device for the wick or burner of a pocket lighter, such, for example, as illustrated and described in my abancloned application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 602,086, filed June 28, 1945, whereby with movement of the lighter cap to a closed position with relation to the lighter wick and casing, a llame produced by the wick Will be instantly and completely snuffed or extinguished.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a snuffer device which, with movement of an equipped lighter cap closure to closed position, will be engaged over its Wick end and snugly contacted at and about its free and open end with the top lend wall of the lighter casing, thfus, positively exclude air from within the same to eifect a satisfactory flame snulfing operation.

It is also an object to provide a snuifer device of the stated character, having means for attaching and yieldably mounting the same in a lighter cap closure, whereby to ensure its positive and air excluding auto-adjustable engagement with the lighter top end wall and over and about the wick.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a snuler attaching and mounting means of such construction and formation that the same may be eifectually and quickly, though securely, installed in and attached to lighter closure caps of somewhat different constructions and/or designs.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings: y

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pocket pyrophoric lighter of .the cap closure type, illustrating my improved snuifer device mounted in said cap.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the snuier device equipped lighter, wherein 1 Claim. (Cl. 67-7.1)

the cap closure of the lighter casing has been moved to a partially open position with relation to the lighter casing.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in which the arrows point, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective 'view of the improved snuifer device.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, it will be noted upon reference thereto that I have shown my improved snuiTer device attached or installed in the cap closure of va form of pocket pyrophoric lighter, such as disclosed in my aforesaid and identified pending application, which device, generally, consists of a casing I, a cap closure 12 pivotally mounted on one end of a spring mounting bracket 3, as at 3', as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, to engage over and adjacent the normally upper end wall 4 of the lighter casing whereby to house or enclose a lighter mechanism assembly, generally indicated at 5, and the extended or exposed end of the lighter wick 6, this latter being extended through'an suitable way provided in an intermediate portion of said Wall 4.

The cap closure 2, whose cross-sectional shape and size adjacent its point of closure contact with the lighter casing end Wall 4, substantially corresponds to that of the lighter casing l, is ofv dome or hood-like formation, having a plurality of outwardly pressed ribs or similar portions 1 formed or otherwise provided in its normally forward and free end.

It is usual and preferable that a suitable type of wind guard 8 be xedly mounted on an intermediateV portion of the outer side of the end wall 4 surrounding the extended portion of the wick 6, for an obvious purpose. Y

The improved snuifer device comprises a striplike body of spring metal or other suitable material, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 9. As shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, the width of the strip-like body 9 is such that the same is more or less closely received within the upper portion of the cap closure 2 and has its intermediate portion inwardly bowed or curved, as indicated at l0, the intermediate portion of said bowed or curved part being formed substantially fiat, as indicated at I I, for a purpose which will be presently described. The over-al1 lengths ofthe bowed spring strip-like body has one oi.' its ends inwardly curved, as at I2, and outwardly flanged, at I3, while its opposite end portion is somewhat similarly inwardly curved, as at I4, and is formed throughout its width, with a dished or transversely curved ange I5, whose transversal curvature is such as to permit snug engagement between the same and an adjacent portion of the pivot mounting 3' of the cap closure 2 on the spring mounting bracket 3.

A snuer cap I6, consisting of a substantially hollow cylindrical body closed at its upper end and open and anged at its lower end, as at I1, is riveted or otherwise xedly connected to the lower or inner; side of the flatintermediate'gportion II ofi'the body 9,'asl at I8.

To install the improved snuier device in the cap closure 2, the spring strip-like body 9 is inserted into said cap 2, abutting its'closedf outer side, in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The length of the Lspr-ingfStriplike body 9 is such that the same substantially-,corresponds to, though slightly exceeds, the internal length of the cap closure 2. The result r'o'fsuch length and insertion ,engagement is that the transversely curved-flange 'I5 -ontlie curved end portion I4 of the strip-like body 9, snugly and more or less bindingly engages withand about a portion of the pivot mounting V3. The remaining and-anged end I3y ofthe vcurvedend -portion ,I2 of said body springingly engages in-the adjacent or uppermost rib 1 in said cap ,2. Consequently, it will be understood .and appreciated'that the spring strip-like body 9 will'be securely though detachably retained within the cap closure:2 with the snuifer cap I6 downwardly extended 144therefrom with its lianged open end I1 outer or lowermost. The depth of bowing or curvingof the-.intermediate portion of the spring strip-like body 9, as at I0, is such that theiflanged open yand lower end of-the snuier cap lli-will be var-ranged in substantially the same horizontal plane asthat of the inner edge or rim of the capl closureY body 2. Thus, with downward pivotal4 or swingingmovement of the cap closure'2, sayffromthe position shown in Figures to the position shown in-Figure 1, the snuier cap I6 will be engaged overgand about the extendedwick end Sof-the=lighterde vice. Itsanged openend I'I will-be-abuttingly though yieldably engaged withzthe adjacent portion ofthe lighter casing end wall'4, inamanner to-substantia1ly exclude the -a-dmission .of :air thereinto and about vsaid extended Awick e;r1d. Therefore, a ame produced by the-'extended Wick end will-be promptly and fully extinguished ,upon thedescribed swinging engagement of the-Snuffer cap I6 thereover. .The springoryieldable mounting of the snuier cap I E on the bowed or curved intermediate portion I.0 of the bodyaprovides autoadjustability thereto, i. -e., .-when, its flanged open endII' is abuttingly engagedWithanadJacent. portion of the lighter, casing endwalMVsaid snuffel cap will be permitted to move slightly upwardly or outwardly to compensate for this abutting contact with said end wall, and so, a positive engagement will be eiected entirely about its open end with said end wall 4.

If adjustment, repair or replacement of the spring mounted snuffer device becomes necessary, it will be readily understood and appreciated that access to and removal of the same from the cap closure 2 may be readily effected, merely by engaging and flexing one of its curved and flanged spring ends from either the ribbed portion 'I of said cap closure or from the pivotal mounting 3' therefor. Moreover, it will be seen that because :of the inherent spring properties ofthe body 9, it maybe satisfactorily an'd 'conveniently installed in or attached to lighter casing 'cap closures of `fsomewhat diierent constructions and/or designs.

Iclaim; In combination with a pyrophoric lighter de- 'vice including a'casing having an upper end wall, .-a wick in the casing having one end portion extended through an opening in the end wall, pivotalmounting means attached to and supported on the end wall in spaced relation thereto, and a domed closure cap pivotally connectediin-.proximity to one end wallxthereof lto said 'pivotal mounting means swingable, at ftimes, `over, vthe upper end wall, said bclosure cap having aninwardly opening pocket in its remainingendwall, astrip-like spring member having anfinwardly bowed intermediate portion, theopposite end portions ofthe member being curved :'onfthemselves andinwardiy disposed, a snuffer cap carried on the inner side of said bowed intermediatemortion-.of the spring member; said memberlbeing of a length substantially `corresponding to the length `of the closure cap and being springingly and-removably received therein longitudinally of thesame, the free endof-'one 'oi-the member curved opposite-end portions having an outwardly facing seat formed therein snugly and springingly removably engaging a portion of said pivotal mounting means, and-,thefreeend ofthe remainingmember curved .oppositeend portion having an outwardly extended ila-nge thereon 4spring-ingly removably engaged in-saidpocket in theremainingend wall of the closure cap.

FREDRICK BOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inithe iile of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date :1,925,933 -Py -.Sept..5, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date ,-360,167 France Feb. 14,1906 I792,2'70 France Oct. 14, 1935

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